Primary Students Connecting and Sharing
Our Final Celebration
The Our World, Our Stories project has been running for nearly seven weeks and it has been an amazing experience.
Each week, we have blogged, commented and conversed about a wide range of topics.
Week One: Typical School Day
Week Two: Recess Activities
Week Three: Food
Week Four: Our Local Environment
Week Five: Traditional Stories and Festivities
Week Six: Traditional Song
Whoever You Are
The students worked together to create this reading of Mem Fox’s story, Whoever You Are.
This story reminds us that even though everyone in the world is very different, we are all equal.
Tolerance and understanding are very important virtues to develop, and can help to create a world full of peace, productivity and pleasure!
Simply press the play button to hear the story and use the arrows to turn the pages that don’t automatically advance.
Make New Friends
Nothing brings people together like a song. Here are the lyrics, sing along!
1. Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold.
2. A circle is round, it has no end, that’s how long I will be your friend.
3. A fire burns bright, it warms the heart, we’ve been friends from the very start.
4. You have one hand, I have the other, put them together, we have each other.
5. Silver is precious, gold is too, I am precious and so are you.
6. You help me, and I’ll help you, and together we will see it through
7. The sky is blue, the Earth is green, I can help to keep it clean.
8. Across the land, across the sea, friends forever we will always be.
* * *
The students have learnt so much about our world and developed their understanding of different ways of living.
The Our World, Our Stories project has proved that even though the world is a big place, technology can help make it smaller. Our classrooms are not bound by four walls and we have a whole world full of students, teachers and community members to learn from and with!
Leave a comment and share something you have learnt or something you have enjoyed about Our World, Our Stories.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Mrs Kathleen Morris on December 7, 2011 at 12:57 pm, and is filed under General. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 1 year ago
Dear readers,
It is sad that today is the last day of ‘Our World, Our Stories’!
My mom and I had fun reading all the posts.
It was so exciting to comment to people all over the world. I’ll miss it!
Mrs. Yollis said that all good things have to come to an end.
I learned so many new things about the environment, different foods and beautiful music.
Love,
Kelly
(Mrs. Yollis’ student)
about 1 year ago
Dear Kelly,
I also think that it is sad that the ” Our World Our Stories ” is coming to an end. I enjoyed reading the different posts every day.
My favorite post is “This Land is Your Land” because it is a lovely song, and it teaches us about America.
I thought it was so cool that Mem Fox wrote a comment on the blog. I love to read her stories.
I hope the students next year enjoy blogging as much as I do.
Your friend,
Atrina
(Mrs. Yollis’ student)
about 1 year ago
Dear Kelly,
That was a wonderful comment you made. I am also sad that Our World, Our Stories is ending. I loved learing new things like food, for example, one of the foods that I never heard of before this is Vegemite. It was such a wonderful experience and I hope we can do it again! I hope everyone had an amazing experience as well.
♥ ♥
Alyssa
about 1 year ago
@ Everyone,
I’m Meg and I’m also in grade 2. My teacher is named Miss Jordan but we work with another class too and their teachers name is Mrs Morris.
I really love this post!!
I think you did a great job of the story who did it and well done everybody who did the song. I really think you did a great job puting the song up Mrs Yollis. Good job Mrs Morris for puting the story up.
I enjoyed the traditional song post that everyone did. That is what I enjoyed about Our World Our Stories.
I bet we’ll get some mor comments! Do you think so too?
Happy blogging. Forgot to say earlier I will really miss going on Our World Our Stories!!! I think other people will really miss our World Our Stories too. Do you?
pps:
Your friendly blogging pal,
Meg
about 1 year ago
Dear Everyone,
Hi its Eb from 2KM and 2KJ.
I love this post!
I love the stoy and the song very very much
I am very sad that Our Word Our Stories has ended.
Love Eb
about 1 year ago
Dear Everyone,
I am Haille in 2kj, I loved the book and I also loved the video of all of the classes singing “Make New Friends”.
For Mrs Yollis: Did you make “Make New Friends” up?
Well done to everyone for reading “Whoever You Are” and singing “Make New Friends”, it all sounded very fluent.
While we were doing Our World Our Stories I learnt and heard songs and stories that I had not known before.
When we were doing Our World Our Stories I enjoyed the posts recess activities.
Bye for now,
Haille
about 1 year ago
Hello all “Our World, Our Stories” classes,
What a wonderful way to finish off a successful online project.
You have no idea how much all of your posts have brightened my day when I have seen them. They have bee the high point of this year for me.
Now here’s a secret most of you don’t know, I only started a blog for the first time this year and started commenting at the same time. Now I have five blogs if I need them for different purposes. I also comment on blogs in so many countries now it’s hard to believe so much has happened this year.
I have been using computers in the classroom since 1981 but blogging only took off after I retired from full time teaching so I have never had the opportunity to work on a class blog of my own. Now I feel I can take part in class activities for so many classes.
Keep blogging all of you. It’s a wonderful way of creating a global classroom.
Ross Mannell (teacher)
NSW, Australia
about 1 year ago
Dear Ross Mannell,
Great comment!
WOW! You have been using a computer since 1981 I didn’t even think that computers were around then!
I have loved seeing all your comments on the awesome posts. All of your comments amaze me…
From,
Jordi
about 1 year ago
Dear Angels
I’m sure you come from many different places. So do I. I was born in Australia, I grew up in Africa and I went to university in England. And then I came back to Australia, the place I love best. Everywhere I went everyone was the same, even if they looked different and sounded different. I learnt that we are all one huge family and it made me happy to know that. I’m thrilled that you have used WHOEVER YOU ARE to learn the same thing. YAY for you! And your great teachers. I loved you blog!
I hope you all have a fabulous holiday.
Much love
Mem Fox xxx
about 1 year ago
Dear Mem Fox,
We were so surprised to see that you left a comment on our blog! It was so nice of you to let us use WHOEVER YOU ARE. It is such a beautiful story about kids all over the world, just like all of us in this project. We learnt that we all have a lot in common even if we live far away from each other.
We think it would be so magnificent if there was a story about the kids in Our World, Our Stories. Maybe one of us will write one.
We are wondering if you are working on any new stories right now. We have some of your books in our library. They are extraordinary!
We hope that you will have a wonderful holiday too. We’re hoping for snow here in Sointula and you are probably hoping for sunshine.
Love,
Mrs. W and the 2/3s
about 1 year ago
Dear Mem Fox,
I wish you could have seen the faces on my students this morning when we were reading the comments. I said to the students, “You’ll never guess who left us a comment last night.” Most of the students guessed Leila because she is usually the first one out of the gate with a comment from our class. I said, “No, it’s not Leila.” I then slowly revealed your name and the jaws dropped! You would have loved it, I did!
The Our World, Our Stories project has been an enriching experience for my students and for me. Each week, we looked forward with excitement to learn about our blogging buddies all over the world. We certainly have our differences, but we are all the same inside.
Thank you giving us permission to use your beautiful story. It was a perfect fit for this project.
I’m curious, where did you live in Africa? How many years did you spend there?
Your friend,
Linda Y♥llis
California
about 1 year ago
@ Mem Fox,
Thank you for your comment!
When I grow up I want to be a childrens book illustrator just like Leslie Staub.
You are an amazing writer!
I have 3 or 4 books that you wrote.
Do you work with Lesile Staub when you’re writing a book or do you do it on your own?
Do you have to type on a computer when you’re writing a book?
We were so surprised to receive a comment from you. My class and I have many more questions we would like to ask you.
Happy writing!
Bye,
Amelie
about 1 year ago
Dear Mem Fox,
It is so nice of you to leave a lovely comment on Our World Our Stories. My teacher in second grade read some of your other books. One of my favorites was Possum Magic.
It must have been a lot of fun to travel to so many places. I know that Australia has a lot of koalas. Have you ever seen one?
I hope you have a fantastic holiday!
From,
Sarah
(Mrs. Yollis’ student)
about 1 year ago
Hello all “Our World, Our Stories” classes,
What a wonderful way to finish off this very inspiring project.
I too come from many different places in the world, but have ended up in Australia and I adore seeing how technology has brought all of you together to celebrate your similarities and your love of learning and sharing.
I have loved the whole project, but in particular I have loved learning about the Bamboo game, as well as the final story you chose. I just know how excited you will all be in the morning when you see the comment from Mem Fox herself. What an absolute treat and just shows the power of blogging to connect us all.
@Mem Fox, you are a very special lady to take the time out to leave a comment for these students and I can’t imagine the faces in the morning when they see this in 2KM and 2KJ. Mrs Morris and Ms Jordan you better take some pictures
Look forward to seeing all your comments back to Mem Fox.
Mrs Murphy
about 1 year ago
Hello to you all,
Thank you for sharing your efforts with others. You and your teachers have worked so hard and I enjoyed it so much I now want to share it with the teachers and children in my school. We have just begun on our blogging journey and your blog is helping me in many ways. You do it so well. Congratulations to you all. I hope you have a lovely holiday. Thank you again.
about 1 year ago
Hi Everyone,
I just watched the slide show you made of WHOEVER YOU ARE. You did a wonderful job, it’s not always easy to read out loud! You were fantastic.
I love the thoughts in this book very much, don’t you? I loved illustrating it. It was really fun and it was really a lot of work. I had to think long and hard about the words to imagine the pictures to go with them. It took many many drawings before I found the right ones. Did you notice the man who takes the children around the world? I call him “the cloud cowboy.” The feathers on his cap are what give him his magic. He starts off with one and gets more because his magic grows stronger. I love to think about magic, not just the wizards and magicians kind but also about the closer kinds of magic, the kind of magic that turns tadpoles into frogs, winter into spring, acorns into giant oak trees with huge spreading limbs. I especially like to think of the magic that turns people like you into grown ups who never forget to care for and about each other and this wonderful magical world we live in.
So I’m sending you big smiles and even bigger hugs all the way from New Orleans Louisiana, USA.
You’ve made me very happy today. So thanks and cheers to all of you, wherever you are in this big round wonderful world.
With joy,
Leslie Staub
PS Isn’t Mem Fox fantastic? I love all her books.
about 1 year ago
Dear Leslie Staub,
How nice to get a comment from you on our blog! I can’t wait to show my students tomorrow in class! I just went back and looked for “the cloud cowboy” and his magic feathers that you described. Beautifully done!
All of your illustrations are so colorful and inspiring. My favorite one is near the beginning of the story. The illustration on the page that says, “…there are little ones just like you all over the world.” I like how you surrounded the planet with the little children.
Thank you for allowing us to use your magical illustrations. It was a good lesson for our student to learn that you must always ask permission to use published work.
What advice to you have for students who are interested in becoming an illustrator?
Also, do you live in New Orleans, Louisiana, or are you on vacation?
Thanks for taking part in our global project!
Your friend,
Mrs. Y♥llis
California
about 1 year ago
@ Leslie,
I ♥ your comment!
What a good illustrator you are!
Yes I did see the man that was taking the children around the world. It was my favourite page!
Your books inspire me so much!
I like Mem Fox as well!
Our class was suprised when you left us a comment!
Good work!
oooo
From,
Dana
about 1 year ago
Dear Leslie Staub,
You are a great commenter! You should be a writer and an illustrator. My favorite picture of yours was the guy with a bunch of feathers on his hat. I liked your advice to draw, draw, and draw. I also like how you say there are no obstacles only challenges, that we should not be afraid to work hard (like I am working hard on my comment), and to remember to look with the eye of your heart. When my teacher asked who wants to be a illustrator, 19/25 people in our class raised their hand. When did you start to love to draw? When did you learn to draw? At what age did you become an illustrator?
Sincerely,
Aidan
about 1 year ago
Dear Leslie Staub,
We were so excited to see your comment. Your illustrations are incredible!
We hadn’t noticed the Cloud Cowboy in all the pictures until we read your comment. Then we went back looking for him. We thought it was funny that on some pages you could only see his feet! A lot of us really like the picture of him throwing the hearts as he flew away.
Some students in our class would like to be illustrators. Out of all the books you have illustrated, do you have a favourite? We love the advice you gave Mrs. Yollis.
We hope you have a very merry Christmas and wonderful holiday!
Love,
Mrs. Watson and the 2/3s
about 1 year ago
Dear everyone
I enjoyed ‘Make New Friends’ because it is fun to sing.
from Sam in B4
about 1 year ago
Dear everyone
I enjoyed singing the song that is called ‘Make New Friends’.
by Holly in B4
about 1 year ago
Dear friends
I have enjoyed doing Recess Activities because I like recess and lunch, and because we get to play.
I learnt that having friends from different countries makes you learn.
from Liam in B4
about 1 year ago
Dear friends
I learnt new traditional songs that I have never heard, all over the world.
I enjoyed doing the Our World, Our Stories and activities.
best wishes
Tyla in B4
about 1 year ago
Dear friends
I have enjoyed making comments to people all around the world. it is fun. I like it. Do you?
from Nathan in B4
about 1 year ago
Dear friends
I have learnt to write good comments on Our World, Our Stories. I have enjoyed being part of Our World, Our Stories.
from Spike in B4
about 1 year ago
Dear everyone
I learnt about different places. I enjoyed meeting new friends, and funny mascots.
sincerely
Paige in B4
about 1 year ago
Dear leila,
great comment I love how you have mad your comment a great one.
From Quinn
about 1 year ago
Dear friends
I enjoyed learning about our friends. It is cool learning about our friends because you get to make friends.
We also got to make a song about friends and we are singing it tonight for our Celebration of Learning.
from Jack in B4
about 1 year ago
Dear friends
I learnt about where a lot of people live and what part of the country they live and I enjoyed writing a lot of comments and listening to a lot of videos.
bye for now
Ganda
about 1 year ago
Well done on a fabulous global project. I enjoyed listening to your story and am intrigued as to what tool you used to insert it into your blog. What a huge thrill to have Mem Fox comment on your blog. It just shows the power of global connections. I loved following your progress. Thanks for sharing.
Mrs A
Assistant Primcipal
Melbourne, Australia
about 1 year ago
@ Mrs A,
Thank you for leaving us a comment! We’re so glad you enjoyed our project. It certainly was a thrill to get a comment from both Mem Fox and Leslie Staub.
We used Sliderocket to make the Whoever You Are book and to make the song. Mrs Yollis turned the Sliderocket song into a video using Camtasia. She then uploaded it to YouTube.
Happy Friday!
Mrs Morris
2KM and 2KJ
about 1 year ago
Dear Mem Fox,
It is so nice of you to leave a lovely comment on Our World Our Stories. My teacher in second grade read some of your other books.
It must have been a lot of fun to travel to so many places. I know that Australia has a lot of koalas. Have you ever seen one? I hope you have a fantastic holiday!
From,
Sarah
about 1 year ago
Dear Everyone,
I am really sad that Our World, Our Stories had to come to an end!:( My favorite part of Our World Our Stories was local environment because we got to see what their environment looked like! I especially liked seeing the environment in Canada. I would like to hike on that green trail that went through the woods.
Even if you only left one comment, still give yourself a pat on the back! It was fun to comment with friends all over the word!
Sincerely,
Sammy
about 1 year ago
Dear Mrs. Yollis.
I do live in New Orleans Louisiana. I love it here.
My advice to anyone who wants to be an illustrator is to draw, draw, draw and let your imagination soar! Please tell your students that one of the many things that inspire me is the work of young artists.
When I give workshops I always tell my students three things; there are no obstacles only challenges,
don’t be afraid to work hard because that’s what it takes,
and most importantly, remember to look with the eye of your heart.
With this I’m sending thanks to all the teachers and students involved in this project. You make this world a better place!
Every happiness,
Leslie
about 1 year ago
Dear everyone,
I am very sad that Our World, Our Stories is coming to an end.
I liked all the posts that were put up. My favorite theme was the food week because we got to see what other classrooms eat for lunch. My favorite class day was the 2KM and 2KJ’s one because they interviewed the lunch lady. It was like she was a celebrity!
I loved blogging with everyone and hope everybody does it next time!
Sincerely,
Acacia♥
about 1 year ago
Dear Acacia,
I am also really sad that Our World, Our Stories is coming to an end. My faviorite post was “Traditional Songs” because we saw everybody’s song and heard their diffrent accents. I, especially, enjoyed the peformances of 2KM and 2KJ.
Sincerely,
♥Ell♥e♥
about 1 year ago
Dear ♥Ell♥e♥,
Thank you for your kind compliment about 2KM and 2KJ’s performance. We loved singing the song with all of you. Even low you live far away, we can use technology to connect and collaborate. How fun!
Your friend in Australia,
Mrs M☀rris
about 1 year ago
Dear Mrs. Morris,
That was a wonderful comment! I love the song Make New Friends. When I was in Girl Scouts we always sang Make New Friends.
I’m going to Sydney, Australia, next year for my grandma’s birthday in December. I can’t wait until I go to Sydney. What is it like in Australia? Have you ever gone to America?
Sincerely,
♥Ell♥e♥
about 1 year ago
Dear ♥Ell♥e♥,
I had not heard of Make New Friends before we sang it and I was actually wondering if Mr B made it up! But obviously he didn’t if you sing it at Girl Scouts.
Wow, I can’t believe you are coming all the way to Australia. If you were coming to Geelong, you could visit us. To get to Geelong you would need to take a one hour flight from Sydney and then drive for about 1.5 hours. So it is quite far away.
Is your grandma Australian? Or is a trip to Australia her birthday present?
Yes, I was lucky enough to visit the USA in 2007 with Miss Jordan. It was our very favourite holiday ever. We went to NY and LA. Unfortunately I didn’t know Mrs Yollis then or I would have visited her. Mrs Yollis and I would like to meet one day. In fact, I would love to meet your whole class!
Best wishes,
Mrs M☀rris
about 1 year ago
@Ellie
That was a fabulous comment!
I also thought that the post “Traditional Songs” as well. My favorite performance was also “G-day G-day” because when I heard it, I felt joyful! I didn’t know that the other countries thought that our accents sounded different as well.
I also thought that it was good of Belize to try to participate even when the had to sing it a cappella. We had to sing a cappella too.
Do you think that it was good of Belize to still try to participate even if they had to sing a cappella?
Sincerely,
Acacia♥
about 1 year ago
Dear friends,
I was surprised and sad when Mrs. Yollis told us that Our World, Our Stories was coming to an end. I always loved looking at all the different posts. I learned so much about different environments, schools and people. The songs were fun to listen to.
My favorite post was about the local environment of Sointula, Canada. I loved the description of their beautiful and green environment.
I hope that next year other students experience what we did this year on Our World, Our Stories.
Sincerely,
Leila♥
about 1 year ago
Dear global friends,
I have really enjoyed following Our World, Our Stories. I have learned some fun and interesting things about friends around the world. For example, I had never heard of Belize or Ghana. Now I know that Belize is in North America. We also looked up Ghana and now I know it is in Africa.
I really liked watching the videos and slideshow about what everyone has for lunch at school. Many of the things that people have for lunch are the same as me. I notice one kid had pasta, and so did I. One of the boys in Australia had Vegemite on his crackers. I was happy that our class was able to try Vegemite.
Your friend,
Matthew
(Mrs. Yollis’ student)
about 1 year ago
Dear Mem Fox,
Thank you SO much for leaving a comment on our blog! I am a big fan! My favorite book is Possum Magic! I am sad that Our World, Our Stories is coming to an end, but I enjoyed it while it lasted. My favorite post on Our World, Our Stories was Traditional Stories! I really enjoyed Belize’s and Ghana’s stories! Since you are a writer and a good one at that too, I was wondering if you could go to Mrs. Yollis’ classroom blog, and go to either Blackberries Yum or Pumpkin bread, and read my story! Then, maybe leave me a comment, and tell me if you liked it or not! I would really appreciate that. Oh, and if you have any suggestions to make my story better please tell me!
Best wishes,
♥♥Sasha♥
Mrs. Yollis’ student
about 1 year ago
Dear Mrs. Yollis,
This project “Our World, Our Stories” has been exciting for all of us to learn about different countries. The one thing I truly enjoyed was seeing all the different flags, and how most schools wear uniforms. We also learned new things about different, enviroments, foods, music, and stories.
Until our next project I hope everyone have a happy holiday.
Sincerely,
Jakob
about 1 year ago
Dear everybody,
Today after school, Brenden came over to my house. We talked about what to write for our comment.
We are sad that Our World, Our Stories is coming to an end.:( We really want to congratulate all of the teachers that participated in the big project. We herd that the project was such a successes, that we might do the same thing next year. We really liked the Our World, Our Stories blog!
We think if you are going to do the same thing next year, you could use this blog to get next year’s class. We bet that the class next year will be really excited!
Royce’s favorite blog post on here is Mrs. Yollis’ class singing This Land is Your Land. For example, Royces favorite part is when we sang the chorus for the second time.
Sincerely,
♔♛♕R◮yce and Br♒nden♔♛♕(Mrs. Yollis’ class)
about 1 year ago
Dear Mem and Leslie,
My name is Kelly and I am in Mrs, Yollis 3rd grade class.
I loved listening to and looking at your book. The illustrations are beautiful and I love the writing too. I didn’t know that the feathers where his magic. I noticed that he had a lot at the end. Thank you for the great advice. I love to draw and want to become an author and illustrator.
What is your favorite thing about drawing and writing?
Do you have a advice about writing?
Sincerely,
Kelly
about 1 year ago
Dear Everyone,
I am so sad that Our World, Our Stories is over. = (
My favorite posts were the videos of the classes singing traditional songs, especially Mr. Salsich’s class song, Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
I also liked looking at the different kids of playgrounds and hearing about how kids play during recess. I loved the video of Mrs. Yollis playing bamboo.
Sincerely,
Logan
(Mrs. Yollis’ class)
about 1 year ago
Dear everyone,
I am very sad that ‘Our World, Our Stories’ is coming to an end. I learned that people from other countries have accents and we have an accent to them. My favorite post was Mr. Salsich’s recess and lunch activities video. I loved their playground equipment and large blacktop area. I wish I could go on their slides! I really enjoyed when two kids set up dominoes and made them fall.
Goodbye to everyone I met via Skype and on Our World, Our Stories. Thank you to everyone who made it happen.
What was your favorite post, and why?
Sincerely,
Rexon
about 1 year ago
Dear Mem and Leslie,
My name is Mia and I am in Mrs. Yollis’ class.
Mem, I have read many, many, many books from you, but one just stood out there for me. My all time favorite book from you would halved to be POSSOM MAGIC. When I was about five or six, my dad would read it to me at night so I could go to sleep. The reason why I read it at night was because my dad read it slowly and magically.
Mem, I think your words are extraordinary! It is like listening to high pitch beautiful opera to my ears! I love WHOEVER YOU ARE because ” Our World, Our Stories ” brings friends together even though we are different, but also the same in a lot of ways.
Leslie, I’m not just saying this because you posted on our blog, but your illustrations are one of the best drawings I have ever seen in a kids book! They have so much details and beautiful trims and backgrounds.
I think, you two are a perfect match together because Mem has the most Magical words, and Leslie has the best illustrations.
I am so happy you made WHOEVER YOU ARE!
Sincerely,
M♥a
about 1 year ago
Dear Everyone,
It is very sad that Our World, Our Stories has come to an end, but we will all still be best friends. I think that Our World, Our Stories is a creative and cool way to get new friends around the globe. There are a lot of fantastic ideas in Our World, Our Stories, but I think Our local Environment is the best because it is a great way for other people to learn how other people’s environments look like. My favorite environment has to be Mrs. Watsons’ Local Environment because it looks like a fantastic and a fun place to live in. I hope that every class and the classes’ teacher will share Our World, Our Stories with there next class.
What is your favorite post?
Sincerely,
Parsa (in Mrs. Yollis’ class)
about 1 year ago
Dear Meg Fox,
It is so cool that you posted a comment on our blog. I love the book that you wrote about how people are different all over the world. We learned a lot over the last 7 weeks about different food, different music and different games all over the world.
Sincerely, Jordyn
about 1 year ago
Dear Mem Fox,
It is so cool that you posted a comment on our blog. I love the book that you wrote about how people are different all over the world. We learned a lot over the last 7 weeks about different food, different music and different games all over the world.
Sincerely, Jordyn
about 1 year ago
Dear Kelly,
Thank you for your letter. My favorite thing about drawing is making something I see in my mind become a picture. I love that about writing too. Word pictures are, in a way, just as vivid and real as pictures you can look at. I love writing just as much as I love making pictures. I write and paint now. I think good advice about writing is to paint with words, to pay attention to the sound of what you are writing and to use all your senses to paint pictures in your readers mind.
Be happy be well, Leslie
about 1 year ago
@ Leslie Staub,
Thank you for commenting back to me. Drawing is one favorite things to do. I don’t want to take art class because it will take all the fun out of it. I am not good with paint brushes, but I am good with crayons and pencils. I think ‘WHOEVER YOU ARE’ is a great book.
Have you made different books?
Sincerly,
Kelly
about 1 year ago
Dear Mia,
I’m so glad you like the pictures for this book. Whoever You Are was the first picture book I ever did. I feel very lucky to have done a book with Mem Fox because she is such a wonderful and inspiring writer. Thank you so much for your comment. It means a lot to me that you like the book. How lucky you are to have a father who knows about the magic of reading aloud!
Wishing you all sorts of wonderful and fascinating things, Leslie
about 1 year ago
@ Leslie Staub,
Thank you for commenting back to me! I appreciate it!
Wow! I didn’t know that WHOEVER YOU ARE was your first book. Can you make more books? Like I told you, I think your drawings are amazing. I would buy your book the day it comes out!
One of my favorite hobbies is drawing. Whenever I have some free time, I love to go in my room, write a story, and draw pictures for it. When I grow up, I want to be an author and an illustrator. I do art class, and I did art camp last summer, so I have drawn a lot of pictures. My first and second drawing weren’t very good, but when I got the hang of swiftly painting my brush, I got pretty good at it.
What was your first picture?
How old were you when you did it?
Did you take art classes when you were little?
I just want to say that I think you are the best kid book illustrator ever!
Sincerely,
M♥a
about 1 year ago
Dear Mia,
I don’t remember my first drawing I must have been very young. I did take art classes when I was young and I loved it. My mom is a puppeteer so I got to do puppet shows as well, that was big fun.
It’s terrific that you want to be an author/illustrator. Isn’t it fun to write stories and draw pictures? Many of my drawings don’t come out right, when that happens I just start over! Oh well, I tell myself, sometimes the magic works sometimes it doesn’t! That’s a line from a funny movie I saw once and it always makes me laugh. Having to start over doesn’t seem so bad when you’re laughing about it.
Keep on writing and keep on drawing and I’m sure your wish will come true! I hope someday to comment on your books and I will say what a wonderful author illustrator you are!
Have a wonderful holiday,
Leslie
about 1 year ago
Dear Everybody in the Our World, Our Stories Project,
It is so sad that some classes are leaving this project. My favorite part of the project was the songs. I liked the song This land is My Land because it teaches you about America. I also liked that everybody joined in on “Make New Friends”.
Sincerely,
Madison (student from Mrs. Yollis’s class)
about 1 year ago
Dear Everyone,
I am sad to see that Our World Our Stories is coming to an end, but I am happy that it was so successful. My favorite catagory was Tradional songs. For example, I liked Mr. Salch’s class singing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” I can play that song on the piano, and now everytime I play it, I will remember this blog.
Warmly,
Alexandra
about 1 year ago
Dear Alexandra,
I agree with you. Though I am sad it is coming to an end, I am thankful that I had a chance to meet some new blogging buddies. I learned so much from the Our World, Our Stories blog, and I am looking forward to doing more blogging.
Thank you Mrs. Yollis, for a wonderful experience!
Sincerely,
Maya (a student in Mrs. Yollis’ class)
about 1 year ago
Dear Blogging Buddies,
I love this post. It was a little unusual to see all the teachers singing in the song though.
I am really sad that the blog is ending.
Your friend,
Joseph
about 1 year ago
Dear Dana,
Thank you for your comment. I am so glad you like the illustrations. It is really wonderful to know they are appreciated. It is the luckiest thing for me to know that children all over the world have read this book!
Have a wonderful holiday,
Leslie
about 1 year ago
Dear Leslie,
Thank you for replying to my comment!
I was so excited to hear I had received a personal reply from you!
I look forward to reading your new book!
Best wishes,
Dana
about 1 year ago
Dear Aidan,
Thank you working hard on your comment. It was very well written! I do write and illustrate now. I have a new book coming out in January called EVERYBODY GETS THE BLUES and I have three more coming out in the next few years. I’m very excited about this even though it is really hard sometimes. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t draw pictures. I started a long time ago. I’m glad to hear that you draw! I was 40 years old when I illustrated my first book. I wish I had started much earlier. I hope with all my heart that all your dreams come true. Knowing how to work hard is the first step to making that happen, so keep up the good work! That is my wish for you.
Yay!
Happy holidays,
Leslie
Happy holidays,